It was published by Strategic Simulations in 1997 using the same game engine of the earlier and successful Panzer General for Windows 95.

[2] Pacific General (also known as "PacGen") is played on a hex map with icons representing aircraft, warships, tanks, and groups of soldiers.

The weather and time of day are also important factors to consider: darkness can obscure troop movements and rain can prevent airstrikes.

Called Pacific Panzer General (PacPG), it includes all scenarios and campaigns from the original, as well as bugfixes.

The player can choose between the Allied and Axis sides in both real and hypothetical scenarios, like the Battle of Midway and Operation Downfall.

Each unit has specific entry dates to when they can be available to a player; the U.S. cannot field jet aircraft until the hypothetical invasion of Japan from late 1945 to 1946.

Custom Equipment Rosters (referred to as "E-Rosters") have been made available for this game after initial release by third-party fan sites, increasing the number of units available for each nation as well as improved in-game graphics.